Should Gcse And A Level Papers Go Online?

[lynnmarie]

It is proposed for GCSE and A level papers to go online within the next decade, what is your opinion on this? Having completed my GCSE's and being in the process of my A levels, I'm not in favor, but I want to know your opinions?

Any views said may be used in my A level Government and Politics debate, however no names mentioned.

Thankyou Guys!

[woofgang]

do you mean take the exams online or publish the old papers?

[Mamyalynne]

I cannot find a link to that lynnmarie - do you have one ?

[rockyracoon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24174535

Found this Mamy, it seems to be the opinion of a private schools leader!

[Mamyalynne]

Thanks Rocky, so still very much speculation rather than a proposal, though I am sure something along those lines will happen.

[rockyracoon]

I'm sure they will sooner or later, for better or worse! :)

Lynnmarie, haven't given it too much thought as I sat exams many years ago, many pros and cons I would have thought.

No illegible handwriting or scribling out.
Most kids can type quicker than they can write.

System crash the say of an exam
Hackable?

[rockyracoon]

Doh, the day!

[Old_Geezer]

Glad I took my exams and had my education when I did. Staring at a screen for the questions isn't going to be as comfortable as being able to turn the paper over and read what you wish. It's why traditional paper books are still around. Nothing beats that experience.

And is the idea what you have to type your answer rather than simply jot it down ? Can one scribble working in the margin ? Or is it all multiple choice stuff ?

Anyway I thought they'd managed to do away with the significance of proving you'd actually learnt your subject in the exam, by monitoring throughout the course so folk have already not achieved sufficient marks by exam time. So it may be all "academic" anyway. Why not just give everyone an A++ and congratulate each involved for their hard work and accomplishment ?

[jim360]

It might depend on the subject. I have a feeling that it might also lead to more exams being multiple-choice, and certainly unless they start teaching children LaTeX or equivalent then it will be hard to avoid relying on multiple choice, as there's no easy way yet to enter mathematical equations quickly on to a computer. Much easier with pen and paper.

[rockyracoon]

Blimey, I imagined the online option would include proper 'written' answers, just as you would write it, you'd type it?

[lynnmarie]

I read it in the Independent a few weeks ago :)